Hematology introduction Flashcards
Blood
a specialized connective tissue
Hematology
the study of blood, blood-forming tissues and blood disorder
General Function of blood
- Supplies all cells with oxygen, water, electrolytes, nutrients, and hormones
- Remove waste products
Specific Functions of blood
- Transporting oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues
- Forming blood clots to prevent excess blood loss
- Carrying cells and antibiotics that fight infection
- Bringing waste products to the kidney and liver, which filter and clean the blood
- Regulate body temperature
Cellular components
- RBC: supply oxygen
- White Blood Cells: defend against foreign materials
- Platelets: Hemostasis
Significance of blood in diagnosis
Blood is easily accessible, making it a primary source for diagnostic tests
Values obtained can indicate:
- A normal response to an abnormal situation
- Primary abnormalities of the hematopoietic system
- Abnormality can be in quantity or quality
Distribution of fluid
Whole blood= 7.2-10% of animals body weight
Total body water= 60%
Intracellular fluid= 40%
Extracellular fluid= 20% (plasma 5%, interstitial fluid =15%)
Preparing hematocrit
- Prevent coagulation of blood
- Most tubes have anti-coagulants, so shake blood in tube initially - Use capillary tube to pick up a small amount of blood. Seal one side with clay
- Centrifuge blood sample
- Separates into serum components (heavy goes down, light rises)
Blood components
- Plasma (55% of blood volume)
- Buffy coat (less than 1%)
- Leukocytes (WBCs)
- Platelets (responsible for blood clots) - Packed Cell Volume ((PCV, ~45%)
- Erythrocytes (RBCs)
Hematocrit
percentage by volume of RBCs in the blood
Composition of Plasma
Proteins (7%)
- Albumins
- Globulins
- Fibrinogen
- Other
Solutes (2%)
- Electrocytes
- Nutrients
- Gases
- Waste products
- hormones
Blood chemistry panel results for serum composition
- electrolytes
- bicarbonate and anion gap
- urea and creatinine
- glucose and cholesterol
- total bilirubin
- ALK phosphate, GGT, ALT, GLDH
- CK
Electrolytes (Sodium, potassium, chloride) in Blood chemistry panel
important for muscles
bicarbonate and anion gap in blood chemistry panel
indicates blood pH
Urea and creatinine blood chemistry panel
kidney function
Glucose and Cholesterol blood chemistry panel
indicates metabolic status
Total bilirubin blood chemistry panel
RBC by product and liver function
ALK phosphate, GGT, ALT, GLDH blood chemistry panels
indicates liver enzymes
CK in blood chemistry panel
muscle enzyme indiciates muscle damage
Important plasma solutes
- From CBC Chem: glucose, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, electrolytes, urea, creatinine, bilirubin
- From other tests: lactic acid, iron, trace elements, vitamins, uric acid, O2, CO2
3 major plasma proteins
- Albumin
- Globulins
- Fibrinogen
Albumin
- ~70kDa
- Carrier proteins
- Synthesized in liver
Globulins
~180kDa
alpha and beta globulins
- Carrier proteins (nutrients, trace minerals, hormones, drugs)
- Proteolytic enzymes (coagulation, complement)
- Synthesized in liver
Gamma-globulins (immunoglobulins)
- Generated by lymphocytes and plasma cells
- Provide immunity
- Synthesized in lymph nodes and mucosal tissues
Fibrinogen
~300kDa
Function for coagulation
Site of turnover for plasma proteins
- Tissues
- Liver
- Mononuclear phagocyte (plasma components broken down and recycled)
Site of synthesis for the 3 major plasma proteins
- Liver (albumin, fibrinogen, and most globulins)
- Lymph nodes and mucosal tissues (gamma-globulins)
Oncotic Pressure
- Oncotic pressure is the Osmotic pressure in the vasculature
Osmotic pressure vs hydrostatic pressure
- Plasma proteins maintain osmotic pressure in the vasculature (oncotic pressure), ensuring fluid is kept inside the vasculature
- The osmotic pressure counteracts the hydrostatic pressure exerted by blood in the capillaries because hydrostatic pressure is pushing fluid out into tissues
- The balance is crucial for fluid distribution between the intravascular and interstitial compartments
Reversible Equilibrium of tissue proteins, plasma proteins, and amino acids
- Proteins are always undergoing turnover. When they get old Mononuclear phagocytes break down plasma proteins and release components back to the blood
- Liver and tissues are making proteins from amino acids and are in equilibrium. If an individual has liver disease and/or prolonged dietary protein deficiency then it can affect plasma protein production and presence within the vasculature which will greatly affect oncotic pressure of vasculature.
What happens if there is not enough plasma protein in circulation?
The fluid will end up in the interstitial fluid resulting in edema
Determining amount of plasma protein
Can be estimated by measuring the refractometry
- Looking at specific gravity and plasma protein
Around 6-8 across mammalian species
If dehydrated, what would you expect plasma protein to do?
Plasma protein concentration would go up because less fluid
If malnourished, what would you expect the plasma protein concentration to do?
Expect plasma protein concentration to go down because not enough raw material to make plasma proteins
If there is an infection, what would you expect the plasma protein to do?
Expect plasma proteins to increase because body needs to make more immunoglobulins
Refractometer
Put a drop of blood from spun down tube onto the device. Middle line will indicate plasma protein concentration
Abnormalities in the plasma
Icterus= excessively yellow pigmentation of the plasma
- Usually due to bilirubin
Lipemia= white, opaque
- Can be due to high levels of chylomicrons
Hemolysis= red discolouration of the plasma column
- RBCs are breaking down and releasing hemoglobin
